4 Ways Your Side Hustle Can Advance Your Career

We all know that millennials love a good side hustle—to fuel both their passions and wallets. According to a survey by CareerBuilder, 44% of 25-34 year olds and 39% of 18-24 year olds have a side hustle to supplement their daily 9 to 5. While some may argue that adding on responsibilities might detract from success at work, if managed properly, there is also significant potential for career advancement.

When we start a business or passion project, we are often put into positions outside of our comfort zones. We can be challenged beyond our daily grind and accomplish things we never expected were possible. Our side hustles can lead us to increase our skill sets and make valuable connections, which in turn, can lead to promotions.

The question then becomes: what are the unique skills and opportunities we gain from our side gigs, and why are they so important to our professional success? Millennial side hustlers Aaron Horwath and Kate Athmer let us in on their experiences, telling us how they landed promotions in their 9-to-5 lives.

Learning How to Prioritize

When you’re the only one running your side business, you quickly discover the importance of setting realistic priorities. Horwath, owner of the blog 12hourdifferencesays, “When you have your own side hustle, you are the one in charge. It is up to you to be self-critical and decide if you’re doing your best work, which tasks need priority, and what skills you need to improve or seek help with.”

There will always be emails to send, posts to publish, and prospects to contact, but it’s not possible to be everything to everyone. Learning what is important in the moment and strategically setting priorities is something a side hustler knows all too well.

These skills in prioritization are incredibly applicable to your full-time gig. Having the ability to look at something objectively and decide its importance is a valuable skill that will set you apart. Prioritizing at your day job starts with identifying your employer’s values and priorities. Doing this will show that you not only take initiative, but that you want to ensure you’re spending your time (and their money) on what is most important to the organization.

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